In the imperial court, a selection is held to choose new consorts for a young emperor already bound by marriage. Among the chosen women are Lady Shen Ruyi, a sharp-tongued daughter of a fallen martial clan, and Su Wenxue, a gentle, beloved commoner praised for her virtue. While Wenxue wins favor through humility and carefully crafted innocence, Ruyi is branded cold and dangerous for her refusal to flatter or submit. The Empress openly supports Wenxue, while the Emperor is drawn to her softness.
In the waning years of the Great Liang Dynasty, the Inner Palace is a world of silk curtains and sharpened smiles, where survival depends on secrets, alliances, and the careful performance of obedience. Within vermilion walls, every woman is watched, measured, and weighed for her usefulness.
A century ago, war burned the Three Realms. Humans and cultivators fought to exterminate the demon race. A century of war left demons hunted and the world in ashes. BĂĄi YĂčlĂĄn, the last nine-tailed fox, infiltrates the QÄ«ngyĂșn Sect and crosses paths with the legendary Sword Saint, LiĂĄn ZhÄn. Rivals at first, secrets, battles, and forbidden love force them to choose between loyalty, fate, and each otherâbecause some bonds are stronger than war itself.